James Black Groome, who served from 1874 to 1876, was elevated
to the Governor's chair following the resignation of Governor Whyte.
Elected at age 35, Governor Groome had the distinction of being one
of the youngest governors ever to serve Maryland.
Perhaps the best description of an Eastern Shoreman was offered
by Henry Lloyd's biographer. The writer said of Lloyd, a Dorchester
Countian who served from 1885 to 1888, "Governor Lloyd is the typical
Eastern Shoreman, believing that the strip of land stretching between
the Atlantic and the Chesapeake is the only bit of country which the
destructive floods of Noah's day never reached. "
Elihu Jackson who served from 1888 to 1892, of Wicomico County,
succeeded Lloyd and build a reputation as an efficient and businesslike
administrator. A staunch supporter of public education, John W. Smith,
of Worcester County, was elected Governor in 1900 and later served
in the United States Senate. In 1908, the citizens elected Austin Lane
Crothers, of Cecil County, who early recognized the importance of the
automobile and secured a five million dollar appropriation from the
General Assembly for the construction of public highways.
Phillips Lee Goldsborough, of Dorchester County, and Emerson C.
Harrington, also of Dorchester, were the last Eastern Shore governors
of Maryland until present. Governor Goldsborough served from 1912
to 1916 and Governor Harrington from 1916 to 1920. In addition
to serving as Governor, the former also served as Maryland's Collector
of Internal Revenue under President Roosevelt and Taft while Governor
Harrington is best remembered for modernizing the State's budget
system. Both are buried in Christ Protestant Episcopal Church in
Cambridge along with three other former Maryland governors. A sixth
is buried in another Cambridge cemetery.
While the record of the present administration is still being written,
I do think it fair to say that my 23 Eastern Shore predecessors in the
office of Chief Executive were men of high calibre and courage. Men
like Paca, Winder, Hicks, and others dared march to a different drummer
when it was in the best interests of the people of this State and
nation to do so.
To my mind, a heritage such as the one left by our Eastern Shore
governors is certain to beget a future that is equally glorious and as
Governor of this State, but probably more so as an Eastern Shoreman,
I am grateful for your interest in that land beyond the Bay.
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